Noble gas pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is transitioning away from (3)He to (129)Xe gas, but the physiological/clinical relevance of (129)Xe apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) parenchyma measurements is not well understood. Therefore, our objective was to generate (129)Xe MRI ADC for comparison with (3)He ADC and with well-established measurements of alveolar structure and function in older never-smokers and ex-smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In four never-smokers and 10 COPD ex-smokers, (3)He (b = 1.6 sec/cm(2)) and (129)Xe (b = 12, 20, and 30 sec/cm(2)) ADC, computed tomography (CT) density-threshold measurements, and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured. To understand regional differences, the anterior-posterior (APG) and superior-inferior (∆SI) ADC differences were evaluated. Compared to never-smokers, COPD ex-smokers showed greater (3)He ADC (P = 0.006), (129)Xe ADCb12 (P = 0.006), and ADCb20 (P = 0.006), but not for ADCb30 (P > 0.05). Never-smokers and COPD ex-smokers had significantly different APG for (3)He ADC (P = 0.02), (129)Xe ADCb12 (P = 0.006), and ADCb20 (P = 0.01), but not for ADCb30 (P > 0.05). ∆SI for never- and ex-smokers was significantly different for (3)He ADC (P = 0.046), but not for (129)Xe ADC (P > 0.05). There were strong correlations for DLCO with (3)He ADC and (129)Xe ADCb12 (both r = -0.95, P < 0.05); in a multivariate model (129)Xe ADCb12 was the only significant predictor of DLCO (P = 0.049). For COPD ex-smokers, CT relative area <-950 HU (RA950) correlated with (3)He ADC (r = 0.90, P = 0.008) and (129)Xe ADCb12 (r = 0.85, P = 0.03). In conclusion, while (129)Xe ADCb30 may be appropriate for evaluating subclinical or mild emphysema, in this small group of never-smokers and ex-smokers with moderate-to-severe emphysema, (129)Xe ADCb12 provided a physiologically appropriate estimate of gas exchange abnormalities and alveolar microstructure.